Net Zero and Energy System Transition – Calorific Value Gas Sensor
Cadent Gas is looking to engage with companies who can develop a Gas sensor that can be installed widely around and across the gas network to assess the gas Calorific Value (CV) at local level. For the transition away from pure natural gas (methane) to a combination of green gases (hydrogen, biomethane or synthetic gases) it is highly beneficial to the operator to be able to measure the constituents of gas, and therefore its CV, at much more localised level than we can do in the UK today. For this to be practically achievable and affordable, we will need to use different technology than that which is common today. We need a small, relatively low cost, easily installed device that has no emissions to atmosphere and self-powers and communicates the right data back. In combination, these criteria will demand significant innovation to advance upon the existing technologies already available.
Opportunity
Challenge opens
05/08/2024
Challenge closes
13/09/2024
Benefit
For the increasing use of mixed green gases including hydrogen and biomethane, within the Gas Network, Cadent with support from IUK Business Connect, are seeking sensors that can be readily installed to gas infrastructure locally to measure the calorific value of the gas across the network at a much more localised basis than we have today.
Background
Cadent Gas is one of the major gas network operators in the UK, the company is looking to the future with less CO2 emitting fossil fuel gasses in their networks.
The introduction of sustainable gas sources & blends (be they Hydrogen, syngas or biomethane) changes the gas mixture and the Calorific Value (CV) of the gas being transported. The current FWACV billing regime limits the commercial viability for sustainable gas producers, both by cost to install & maintain requisite hardware & software but also due to the requirement for enrichment (by injection of propane) to prevent CV capping. Propane enrichment is an added cost and complexity, and is not, necessarily, required to maintain compliance of GS(M)R. Additionally, for low CV gas sources such as H2, where blending is required as enrichment is not feasible then the prevailing billing regime limits the capacity of distribution networks to accept gas injection volumes.
To demonstrate the feasibility of billing regime change local assessment the Calorific Value is necessary. The present methods of testing for CV would not be suitable for widely distributed gas quality measurement because they’re relatively large and expensive, have significant install and maintenance workloads, and they vent sampled gas to atmosphere. This is GSMR and should be assessed at point of entry
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